OUTBOARD MOTOR REPAIR IN BOSTON

GREATER BOSTON OUTBOARD MOTOR REPAIR COST

How much does it cost for outboard motor repairs? In the greater Boston area, annual
outboard maintenance can cost anywhere from $75 to $180 on average. Major outboard motor repairs can
range
up to $680 dollars on average. A couple tips for keeping costs down:

Buy second hand parts for older engines yourself. Older
outboard motors are
difficult to find parts for and it’s difficult to find
mechanics that know how to service them. Try to buy parts you may need online before you
actually need
them. That way, you can equip your outboard mechanic with the necessary parts and you
won’t have
to pay a markup on them. Over time, these parts will get harder and harder to come by, so
it’s
good to find as many spares as you can, while you can.

Find a mobile outboard mechanic for regular repairs. For regular
outboard
maintenance, find a freelance outboard mechanic that you trust. He will
be able to fix your outboard motor at a considerably reduced cost most of the time because he
doesn’t have the overhead of a big boat repair shop. These mobile boat repair companies
are very
common in the boat repair industry, but you have to be sure you find outboard mechanics that are
certified, tried, and true. For major repairs, it’s worth consulting a larger boat repair
shop
that can draw on the expertise of a larger staff and has more equipment.

FINDING THE BEST OUTBOARD MOTOR REPAIR SHOPS IN GREATER BOSTON

Obviously, the first place you look for outboard motor repair is the boat dealership where you
bought your boat and motor. However, oftentimes the dealership has a backlog and can’t service
your
outboard engine for weeks. In that case, you’ll need to look
elsewhere. Every boat mechanic claims to know their way around outboard motors,
but there are a few
tricks to finding quality outboard mechanics without breaking the bank:

Outboard engine manufacturer certifications are a
must. Outboard engine
manufacturers offer training courses on servicing their engines. Look
out for a manufacturer badge that denotes this certification. If the boat repair shop is a
dealer for
Yamaha outboards, Mercury outboards, or any other manufacturer, then the chances are that they
are
certified to repair them as well.

Friends don’t always know best. Most of us get referrals
from friends when looking for outboard mechanics, however, this only works if your
friend’s
outboard engine is similar to yours. If your engine is older, for example, your friend’s
outboard
mechanic may not be the best person for the job. You should also consult
the dealership, your marina, and the customer service department of your outboard engine
manufacturer.

Where to look? The best outboard motor repair shops,
and boat repair shops in general, are south of Boston in towns like Quincy, Hingham, Cohasset,
Scituate,
and all the way down to Duxbury. These are recreational boating hubs before you get out to Cape
Cod
where there are also lots of outboard mechanics and boat repair shops.

Research online, but also call. While you should
do your due diligence on outboard mechanics online, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone
and call
around. Mariner Exchange has the largest database of boat mechanics in the country, but still
not all
boat repair shops are online. Furthermore, many outboard mechanics are older and not as tech
savvy. Some
of them, frankly, don’t want more business than they already have, so they won’t
respond to
your emails. If you call, you have a better chance of getting your outboard motor
repaired.

MAINTENANCE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS

The best thing you can do to stay out of boat repair shops and on the water, is to be sure you
don’t neglect your outboard motor service. Perform annual maintenance on your outboard motor
and get
problems addressed quickly. Regular maintenance can be the difference between a $75 repair bill and
a $600
repair bill. Here are a few things to watch for so that you can get ahead of any issues with your
outboard
engine:

Watch out for propeller damage. A propeller that
has been bent or damaged can have a severe impact on your outboard motor’s performance.
Consult an
outboard mechanic if you notice this.

Lubricate to prevent rust. If you’re about to put
the boat away for the season, make sure to lubricate moving parts like the steering grease
points, shift
mechanism, carb valves, etc so that they don’t rust.

New spark plugs are needed periodically. If your
outboard engine won’t start, there’s a good chance it’s a fueling issue or
that you
need a new spark plug. To prevent getting stuck in this situation, watch for slow revving or
excess fuel
burning as this could suggest it’s time to change the spark plug.

Fuel/fuel lines are critical. After the boat has been sitting all
winter, it’s possible that your fuel line could be blocked. Also, make sure that the fuel
line is
not leaking at all. Clean fuel is essential to the health of your outboard engine so make sure
that
water and other contaminants don’t get in the fuel.

Water pump impeller maintenance. The water pump impeller is
critical to cooling your outboard engine. You should replace the impeller every year or two and
make
sure the area is clean before you install the replacement. Make sure the water coming out of the
outboard engine is not too hot and has good pressure.

Oil check. No surprises here - check the oil, make sure
there’s enough in there, and change the oil filter if necessary.